Netball: Time to put one in the bag

By JULIE ASH

It takes a fair bit of thinking to recall the last time New Zealand could lay claims to having the best side in the world.

The year was 1987 and the location, Glasgow. With Lois Muir the coach and Leigh Gibbs the captain, the team, who included greats Sandra Edge, Waimarama Taumaunu, Tracey Fear and Tracey Forsyth, breezed past their toughest rivals Australia and Trinidad and Tobago in section play before beating Trinidad and Tobago in the final.

Sixteen years later, Australia and New Zealand still dominate world netball.

But that supremacy may be about to come to an end with home-town favourites Jamaica expected to be serious title contenders.

Playing in their own environment in front of a stadium full of parochial supporters - who have been known to stand on their seats for entire matches, play their reggae music as loudly as possible and who are by no means afraid to give the umpires or opposing players a bit of flak - Jamaica may be about to have their time in netball's spotlight.

Having beaten New Zealand and Australia in the past 18 months, there is every chance the home team will walk away from this tournament with netball's most prized possession.

Former New Zealand captain Julie Seymour, who has been to two world tournaments, has said she would not be surprised if Jamaica upset Australia in pool play, which would mean the Silver Ferns would face Australia in the semifinals.

A loss in the semis would result in New Zealand's exit from the competition, a situation similar to 1995 where New Zealand bowed out to Australia in the semis after finishing second behind South Africa in their pool.

While this may be worrying for Ferns fans, it does not faze New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken.

"To be world champions you have to beat them all," she said.

Up until that crucial semifinal match the Silver Ferns have a relatively easy run.

The Cook Islands, England, Fiji and two qualifiers are not expected to pose them any problems in pool play, while their quarter-final match against the team who finish fourth in pool A should also be a walkover.

On the other side of the draw, Australia and Jamaica have been pooled together, which means both sides will know where they stand after they square off on Thursday. Whether the Silver Ferns fail or succeed in this tournament could largely depend on the performance of goal attack Belinda Colling .

One of the hardest-working players, Colling's leadership and ability to slow things down on attack will be essential come semifinal time.

However, it will also be vital she puts up her share of shots and is successful, because shutting down Irene van Dyk will be high on the priority list for all of the Silver Ferns opponents.

On defence Vilimaina Davu and Sheryl Clarke proved they could match the Australians in last year's Commonwealth Games final and should be able to counter-act anything Jamaica or Australia throw at them.

New Zealand's strength probably lies in the midcourt, with Aitken having the option of being able to alternate between Anna Rowberry, Adine Harper and Temepara Clarke.

The fitness and form of Lesley Nicol will also be crucial - without her in that wing defence position, New Zealand will be severely weakened.

"In the end it is going to be that rock-solid side who win it," Aitken said. "It is just putting it all together on the day."

Whether the Silver Ferns can put it together for the semis and then, hopefully, for the final is now the question.

Although fans are sick and tired of the bridesmaid tag, a gold medal-winning performance, although not out of their reach, is going to be a tough ask.

The key for the Ferns will be ensuring they build on each of their performances in those early games so by the time they reach that semifinal they are firing on all cylinders.

With the team's average age at 26, many were hardly 10 when New Zealand last won the title.

But unlike 1987, when New Zealand were 10 goals ahead of Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, in this tournament, little is expected to separate the top three teams.

Which means the team who play with their heads rather than their hearts will be the ones who leave Jamaica on top of the world. On Monday week, we will know whether that is the Silver Ferns.